Hello beautiful people! Welcome to my story thingy mabobber. I wrote this just for pure enjoyment, so you'll have to overlook any glaring mistakes in it. Try not to throw flames at me if you find any. ;-) Just sit back, read it, enjoy it, and REVIEW! K, I'm done.

Disclaimer: I am not Christopher Paolini. Shocking, I know, but true. So don't SUE ME! I'm just a crazy insomniac with a story idea! And here it is!

It was unbearably hot in the chamber, due to the roaring fires in the many hearths placed in the intricate walls of the room. A group of men, dwarves, and a few elves were in the room, gathered around a group of about thirteen shiny, perfect stones, varying in color. They watched with hopeful eyes and children and teenagers marched past the stones, eyeing them with wonder. With each passing child, a spark of the crowd's hope died. The many children, human, elves, and dwarves alike, looked let down as they passed the stones without causing the rocks to move at all. They exited the large, flickering room through a door at the other end, running to tearfully tell their mothers or siblings that they had not been chosen.

As the last dwarf child went through the door, without a single reaction from the stones, the group of adults sighed and sat in chairs scattered across the shining wood floor. They had all hoped that this group might have revealed at least one suitable child, but, as in the many times during the past, there were none.

"Ach," a dwarf cried from his chair, his hammer in his lap, "Another group come and gone! Will they ever choose one they like!"

"We need to give them more time," a dark elf man said lightly, sighing after a glance to the stones.

The dwarf snorted. "Some've 'em have had nearly a century! How much longer do they need?"

"Whatever time they need, we'll give it to them," a lean redheaded man said.

"It's not more time they need," the dwarf continued, "What they need is more dwarves to choose from."

A thick-set man jumped up from his chair and gripped his sword's hilt. "Are you implying that your race is more fitting for this task than humans or elves?"

The dwarf gripped his hammer and raised his head challengingly, causing his helm to flash in the firelight. "Mayb' I am."

The man narrowed his eyes and the rest of the group watched carefully, ready if a fight broke out. Just as the tension between the races was rising to a breaking point, a voice from a shadowed corner made them all turn.

"Be at peace, my fellows," it soothed. They all relaxed at the sound of the deep voice. A man stepped from the shadows and smiled lightly at them. A small group of young elves and humans followed him, and they bowed slightly to the three races.

The man at their head stepped forward more. "These things take much time; I have seen it before. Keep faith and patience. If you do, there will be thirteen more in my ranks before time is done."

The dark elven man stood and bowed to the shadowed man. "It is good to see you again," he said. "Many of us still have faith and patience in great amounts, but I do wonder if we shall ever be able to find people, of any race, that can handle some of these." He motioned to a stone that stood alone on a pillow, nearest the fire. The shadow man smiled at the stone and stepped toward it, stooping to gently hold it in his arms. "This little one will be handled by whomever it may choose. The Togira Ikonoka has prophesied its chosen one's identity, as you all know. Somewhere, anywhere, the right person- elf, dwarf, or human-is inching closer toward their destiny."



The wind shifted, causing the dead grass of the small cliff to rustle. A girl stood alone on the cliff, letting the wind play with her hair. She breathed in deeply, relishing the scent of the tiny forest a league or so away across the Alagaesian border, near Melian. She swore one day she would leave Surda forever and go to its larger neighboring country of Alagaesia. Since her town was so near the border, she had crossed it, but not far enough to see any of the wondrous things in Alagaesia.

"Someday, I will leave this little town and become part of the vast Empire" she told the breeze. It howled, whether in encouragement or mocking, the girl couldn't tell.

"Lavidatia! Lavidatia! Where are you this time?"

The girl on the cliff smiled at the annoyed call. "On the cliff, Wayna!" she shouted. She laughed to herself when she heard her companion climb the steep rock with grumbles.

A plump girl crawled over the edge and lay on her back, panting. LavidatiaI…swear..." she puffed. "One..of…these…days...you're..going…to..kill..me."

The other girl smiled. "You could have waited by Park."

"Don't think I wouldn't have! Mama Sutten sent me to tell you we have to go back now." When her friend turned back toward the edge of the cliff, Wayna regarded her with suspicion. "What are you doing up here all the time anyway?"

Lavidatia's unusual lilac eyes swept over the land ahead of them, trying to see Uru'baen, Alagaesia's capital city. "Thinking of the future," she said simply.

Wayna sat up and peered at her windswept cohort. "Why ponder your future? All of our futures are the same; we will stay with Mama Sutten until, if we're lucky, we catch a man's fancy and marry him. It is the fate of Mama Sutten's girls."

Lavidatia scowled. "Not me. I am going to see more than just a husband's small house. I will do more than provide him food and children. My life will mean more than cooking and cleaning."

Wayna shrugged and dismissed these things as her friend's fantasies. She knew that Lavidatia would marry as all Mama Sutten's girls did and settle down. She certainly has enough suitors to, her friend thought with amusement. "Well, before you begin your adventures, let's at least go and eat before Mama Sutten has a fit."

With one last look across the grassy plains, Lavidatia followed her friend and began to descend. At the base of the small cliff was staked a small old pony. He whickered when he saw Lavidatia, and the dark haired girl patted him gently.

"Hello Park. It's good to see you too," she gave him a sugar lump from her pocket, which he nibbled up gratefully.

Wayna unstaked the old gelding. "You stole sugar again from the kitchens, didn't you?"

"And what if I did?" Lavidatia questioned with a smile.

Wayne rolled her eyes. "Were I responsible and unfaithful, I would tattle on you to Mama Sutten."

"But you are neither," Lavidatia concluded with another smile.

"Let's go home before Mama Sutten beats some responsibility into both of us."

The two girls clambered onto the pony's back and chattered as they trotted back to Mama Sutten's.

Mama Sutten's Home for Refined Young Women was a three story white house set on a plain of dead grass, matching the surrounding fields. Its porch was worn but still neat; as everything that Mama Sutten had control over. She stood on that very porch, tapping her foot impatiently as she watched the pony and riders approach.

As soon as the two girls slid off, she walked briskly up to them and folded her arms over her chest. "Wayna, I expected you back sooner," she said coolly. "Explanation?"

Wayna looked down guiltily. "It was not her fault," Lavidatia protested. "I was the one who wasn't back in time. It just happened to be Wayna's job to have to drag me back."

Mama Sutten turned her gaze on the taller girl. "Go to the dinning room, Wayna. Tell the girls they may begin their meal and join them. We will be in shortly."

Wayna curtsied slightly and went in the house, mouthing "good luck" at her friend. Lavidatia stood uncomfortably under Mama Sutten's gaze. After a few moments of this, Lavidatia raised her eyes to meet Mama Sutten's. She was surprised to find, not anger, but puzzlement.

"What are you, child?" she asked.

Lavidatia stared at her, confused. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, what are you? My other girls are all content to sew and cook and clean. They are beyond pleased when a man courts them, and marry him willingly. What are you that you are so different from them? You are human enough, but not girlish."

"I am not interested by the things many other girls are," she said with a shrug.

"No, no you aren't. Do you know I have been running this place for three decades? A long time, is it not? Do you know that you are one of the strangest girls that I have had in my charge during all that time?"

Lavidatia shifted her weight. "Why am I so strange?"

"Ever since you were tiny, I saw things that were…peculiar about you. You did not like to play with dolls, but instead fought invisible monsters with sticks. You were amazingly smart and picked up mathematics quickly; something other girls hated and were slow to do. And you read every book you touched; odd for a woman your age.

"As for your looks; they are as strange as they are appealing. Your eyes, child, are so bizarre that they are beautiful. Never have I seen any beings with purple eyes."

"But they can look almost black sometimes," Lavidatia protested weakly.

Mama Sutten shook her graying head. "In bad light, else they are as purple as lilacs. And your hair is far darker than any person in Surda. And I have noticed that, in moonlight, your locks take on a purple tinge. You are tall for a woman, and your lean build is attractive."

She turned her brown eyes on her charge, clear as bells for all the wrinkles about them. "You have many suitors, Lavidatia. Have you even considered any of them?" The girl's face became sour and the older woman sighed. "You are nearly seventeen. Womanhood is upon you. Marriage would do much for you, I think. Think on it, girl. Choose your future wisely." She went up the steps and turned to face Lavidatia. "I will expect you to at least think on the choice. In the meantime, come in within a few minutes." She turned and went into the well-lit house, the door closing with a quiet squeak behind her.

Lavidatia listened to the wind for a moment. Yes, she knew she was strange. She knew she was odd-looking and acting. She had denied it when she was younger, but now she had accepted herself for what she was. As for her future, she had decided that.

"I will not marry now and settle down like the rest of them," she said passionately to the rising moon. "I am going to leave here, leave this and see more of this land. This I promise myself, with only the wind, sky, and moon for witnesses."

The darkening sky stayed silent, save for the light wind's whisper. With a last glance up at the moon, Lavidatia went inside and had dinner as though nothing had happened.

The next day, Lavidatia hurried through her chores of cleaning and sewing to get to her lessons. Today she was going to study a map of their land and begin plans for her departure. She slipped into the quiet, bright library and glided past a few other giggling girls toward the scrolls with maps on them. Selecting the right one, she took it to a table in the corner, as far from everyone else as she could be.

She unrolled the map and let her eyes sweep over everything on it. Surda was a small area on the southwest coast of the continent. It had no great mountain ranges, but the towering Beor Mountains started just on its eastern border. The great range that was rumored to be too high for a dragon to fly continued on until the end of the map, where the unknown parts of the earth began. Over half of the northern part of the map was filled with the Du Weldenvarden; a great forest rumored to house the nation of the elves somewhere within its thousands of leagues. The eastern middle of the map was owned by the harsh Hadarac Desert. From its sandy borders to the west coast were the most populated parts of Alagaesia. Directly north of her little town of Cithri, past the Tudosten Lake was Uru'baen. To the west of Cithri was the Spine Mountains. These mountains were not as tall as the Beor, but they were longer.

Her purple eyes slid back to Uru'baen, home of the king of Alagaesia. She knew she needed to go there. She had to go there and escape a life of continual obedience to her husband. She got out a piece of blank parchment and took several hours to copy the map exactly; she would need it for her travels. What she was going to do once she got to Uru'baen she had no idea, but that could be figured out later. She had just stared to trace the route she would take with her fingers when a group of annoying, chattery girls tumbled in. She rolled her eyes and tried to continue her work as they spoke of boys and men.

"And what might Lavidatia be engrossed in this time?" a trill voice questioned. Lavidatia looked up to see a shrewish girl sneering at her.

"Something that requires intellect; it wouldn't interest you, Hagadthi."

The girls surrounding Hagadthi giggled at the insult, but hushed when the sharp-featured girl glared at them. "You're such a queer, Lavidatia," she said. "Mayhap you'll marry another queer. Say Juthig Garrit, for example."

Lavidatia thought of the hulking boy who loved mold but refused to let the idea disgust her. "I rather thought you might marry him; you're looks are so similar."

More giggles were silenced by a violent glare. "Not funny, Lavidatia."

Lavidatia wanted to stop fighting with someone as stupid ad Hagadthi and return to her plans. "What do you want, Hagadthi?"

The girl sneered again. "Nothing from you, queer. I just wanted you to know that you're weird and no one likes you."

"Oh that's very nice. Now could you go away so I am no longer pained by your squeaky voice?"

Hagadthi's sneer faltered but she forced it back. "You'll never find a better husband than Juthig with that mouth."

"I am not going to marry like you and the others. Not now nor soon."

"You have to; it's what all Sutten girls do. Though maybe not you; maybe you'll be one of the few who stay here in this house all your life; just a pitiful old spinster that no one will remember. You may have pathetic dreams, but you know they'll never come true. You'll stay here for your whole life, dreaming about things you couldn't have achieved in the first place. The rest of us will marry and prosper, maybe even visiting outside towns if our husband's are rich, as we all know mine will be."

Lavidatia forced a harsh laugh. "You think you'll marry a rich husband? People see right through your deplorable looks into your black heart. They'll know that you're miniscule brain is decaying in your skull. The only man who would ever marry you will be desperate; bereft of all other options. He'll tire of your simpering attitude, and lack of personality and he will think of you as a leech; sucking away his money and time. The only good thing you will be to him is the mother if his children and even that will seem feeble once they turn into brats, miniature models of his wife. So you would do well to pour on more perfume and pile on more makeup, Hagadthi, for they are the only things to recommend you."

She stood and rolled both scrolls up quickly, replacing the original before striding past the stunned girls. After dropping her copied map on her bed she went to the stables. She took the youngest pony they had and galloped it toward her cliff to think. Shoving the stake in the dirt for the pony to graze, she scrambled up the rocky side.

Angry tears blurred her vision. I am going to be more than a spinster! I will have my dreams! She calmed as the wind blew over her, drying her tears. She sat in the scanty grass and stared out over the land. Cithri ended before her, and Alagaesia began. She was going to go there soon, no matter what it took. The light turned pink in the sky as the sun began to set, and Lavidatia climbed down to the grazing pony. They rode back and Lavidatia saw that a fire was burning in the large front room. She smiled; it was a story night.

All the girls knew what the fire meant and hurried through their dinners as fast as they could. After their plates were washed and dried, they all crowded into the cozy front room, the older and younger ones fighting to be seated in one of the old armchairs. Lavidatia seated herself on the floor next to Wayna with a smile. Everyone hushed when Mama Sutton came in, a battered scroll in her hands. She sat in the especially large armchair that was always saved for her. She unrolled the scroll and looked at them over the top of it. "Tonight's tale was written about ten years ago, before the fall of the evil king Galbatorix, by an ancient Rider named Brom the storyteller."

Whispers rushed through the girls. They all knew who Brom was, but they quieted so they could listen. Mama Sutton unrolled the scroll further and read. She told them the story of the Riders first. She told of the times they flourished and held justice to the times they became lazy and arrogant and finally of their downfall at the hands of Galbatorix.

The next scroll was a record told by Eragon, the current Head Dragon Rider. It told his story from the moment he found Saphira's egg to when he successfully killed the evil King Galbatorix.

"Once he had killed Galbatorix," she said. "He then made it his duty to find the Empire a new, good ruler. From his search came our compassionate king, Gatorl."

She set the scroll in her lap and looked them over. "Eragon fell in love with Arya, and she with him. They are married by elven vows and now Eragon is forging a new generation of Riders. From the dragons remaining in the world, he has been able to attain five new Riders, and more are training as we speak. We are safe from Galbatorix's madness now, but his son is claiming the throne as his own. The cowardly boy hides from Eragon, and it is rumored that he has a strange powerful force which is the only thing keeping him from being overtaken by the Riders. Urgals still plague some places. They will continue to do so, as shall one or two Shades, until the riders have a formidable rank. A handful of towns have refused to surrender to the peace and rule of Gatorl and the new Riders; the dark and evil Dras-Leona foremost among them. The town worships and respects only the black peaks of Helgrind; old home to the Ra'zac. They drink blood and sacrifice, sell slaves and ignore poverty. The Riders are trying to break the town, but it refuses to yield its evil ways. Through time and effort, the Riders will be able to prevail. Let us hope it is soon." She folded the scroll and the girls broke into wild applause. Mama Sutten smiled and let them cheer the history of their neighboring nation, but then pushed them towards their beds.

Lavidatia folded herself beneath her covers, a new desire burning in her to escape from Cithri. Mayhap, were she lucky, she could even catch a glimpse of a Rider when she went to Uru'baen, for that is where they resided now. When she fell asleep, her dreams were filled with dragons and their Riders.

To everyone, the next week passed the same as every other one had. Or so it seemed, for though she acted usual, Lavidatia was forming plans for her journey to Uru'baen. She carefully stored up food and water, slowly enough not to arouse notice, but swiftly enough that she saw her stores grow rapidly. She had money in a locked box, as every one of the girls did—for their dowry. As Lavidatia hardly needed that, she decided to use once she got to Uru'baen.

On the night when the moon was brightest, Lavidatia silently tucked her food and belongings away in a pouch she had sewed. It was too small, but she would have to make due. She shrugged into a pair of breeches she had sewn also—Mama Sutten never let them wear men's clothes—grabbed her bow and quiver and slipped into the dark hallway. Her leather boots made no noise on the wood floor, so the creak from behind her made her jump and spin.

Wayna stared back at her, dressed in a traveling dress and also holding a pouch of her own stitches and a bow.

"What are you doing awake," Lavidatia whispered, alarmed.

"You didn't think I was going to let you go to Uru'baen alone, did you? I'm your friend, so I have to make sure you don't fall into trouble. Besides, I want adventure too, however much I might hide it."

"It will be dangerous and hard," Lavidatia warned, hoping to make her friend back out.

But Wayna only shrugged. "Fine. I'm coming, though."

Lavidatia recognized the tone of Wayna's voice and decided she had no time to argue. "Alright, but let's go before we're caught."

"A little late for that, my dears."

Mama Sutten's whisper made them both jump. The old woman stared evenly at them and sighed. "Escaping, my pets? To where were you off to?"

"Uru'baen," Wayna answered before Lavidatia could pinch her.

Mama Sutten nodded and motioned for them to follow her. They did, with Lavidatia throwing Wayna a glare for giving away their destination. Her friend answered with an apologetic shrug. Mama Sutten led them to her office, which was brightly lit despite the late hour. She sat behind her aged oak desk and offered them chairs in front of her with a wave.

"Why were you sneaking out?" she asked, her voice blank.

Lavidatia knew Wayna would have no answer, so she said, "To make a life of our own."

Mama Sutten showed nothing at the answer, but queried, "Why might you seek Uru'baen to make life anew?"

"Because it is where the great Riders reside, so it must be a great city full of new opportunities."

"Are you aware of the dangers the road to there holds?"

"Very. Urgals prowl, some Shades may be there, the elements threaten travelers, and the distance is great. I was going to face these anyway."

"You are that desirous of going to Uru'baen?"

"I am. I want no life of submission to a man. Instead I will travel to Uru'baen to make it as I please."

"And I will accompany her," Wayna said loyally.

Mama Sutten surprised them both by saying, "Then you have my blessings."

Lavidatia blinked, not sure she had heard correctly. "What?"

"I give you my blessing in your travels."

Lavidatia blinked again. How could Mama Sutten, loving but strict, be granting them permission to travel the many, danger-filled leagues to Uru'baen. "You're letting us go?"

She nodded. "I can, by law stop you, but I know your determination, Lavidatia, and your loyalty, Wayna, so I will not try something as futile. Besides, I once had a few adventures of my own."

Lavidatia was awed. She had thought the biggest adventures Mama Sutten had had would be churning butter or riding in the rain.

"But before you go," said Mama Sutten, "I would like to tell you what I know of your lives before you came to me. Wayna, you're first. Lavidatia, please wait outside."

She rose and went out the door, closing it quietly behind her. She sat against the wall and wandered what Mama Sutten could have to tell her about her unknown parents. She probably just wanted to tell Wayna about her parents alone, so she pretended to have information on mine.

Excitement built inside her. She was going to start on her journey soon! She wouldn't have to marry a sluggish farmer and bear his children, feed him, and clothe him without complaint! No such life for her! She wanted to shout with joy, but restrained herself. After minutes in her silent joy, the door opened and Wayna ushered Lavidatia inside, taking her place on the wall.

Lavidatia took her seat in front of Mama Sutten's desk and met the woman's loving gaze. "I should have known I couldn't get you to marry and be chained to a boring life. You are not like the others, so your future will not be like theirs. Your past was different from theirs also. They were all abandoned or sent here to be rid of. I managed to transform my orphanage and shelter into a school that sent out the finest brides in this region.

"Men seek out my girls, knowing what good wives they will make. I took them in on the day these girls were handed to me from their mother's arms or from the doctor's after he had seen their mother die in labor. But you did not come to me that way. I remember well; it was a cold day, strangely foggy and cold. My school had been open and running for fourteen years already, and never had I seen fog and mist such as this. Strange rumors were flying around Cithri; rumors about beasts and a Dragon Rider, and Shades, and Urgals. Strangest of all were of a traveling spirit, some kind of being that dwelled in the few trees we have. When screeches began to sound in the dead of the night, we townspeople became worried. One night, when the screeching was loud and close, I locked the door and barred the windows, fearing whatever made the horrible noises. They came terrifyingly close, but then faded and eventually stopped. When I peeked my head out the door the next day, a bundle had been placed before my door. It was purple silk, and it held a babe; you. You were naught but a week or two old, and I was shocked to see your purple eyes. There was a scrap of paper gently folded in your wrapping."

She unlocked a drawer of her desk and pulled out a yellowing bit of parchment. Lavidatia looked at the strange runes on it, the words unlike anything she'd ever seen before. "What does it say?"

"I don't know. It is a tongue I cannot read. But look, these words seemed to address you," she pointed to the words on top.

Fomia, eka oalam. Eka kopa eka Sundavar ol du fruhihr. Liole huye kohet eka elem ecep ono. Atra gulai un ilian tauthr ono un atra ono waise skolir fra rauthr. Wundrth un waise Tuntelen eom Gokohl, wiol pomnuria ilian. Pomnuria Liole waise hrithri ono Wyrmnth.

Muntanee Welden Freohr

Lavidatia stared at the strange script. It had a spectral look about it, like something old and sacred. "This was found…with me?"

"It was. I do not know by whom you were left, but they left it as well. It is yours. As is this." She reached into the drawer again and pulled out a package of brown paper. "I wrapped it to keep it safe for when this day came," she explained, handing it to Lavidatia.

She carefully tore off the paper and watched as a shiny fold of material fell out. It looked like purple liquid, so pure was its make. She rubbed it between her thumb and forefinger in amazement, awed by its thinness and softness.

"Look in the corner," Mama Sutten instructed.

Lavidatia did as she said and found an embroidered symbol sewn with indigo thread. It was complicated, as such Lavidatia had never seen. She ran her thumb across it. "Do you know what it is?"

"No. But I have a feeling it has to do with whoever put you on my doorstep."

Lavidatia stared at the symbol and tried to relate it to anything she had ever seen, but found she had seen nothing even slightly resembling it. She folded it carefully back in the brown paper, tucking the note inside it, and placed it in her pouch.

Mama Sutten looked at her small pouch and said, "Those will not serve you well on the journey." She stood and began digging around in her closet. She brought out two framed packs and said, "Take these instead."

Lavidatia accepted them with thanks and stuffed her pouch in it. She slung it on her back to test it out, and arranged her quiver to fit comfortably while Mama Sutten gave Wayna entrance to do the same. Once the girls were ready, Mama Sutten guided them to the stables.

"We can go on foot," Wayna said as Mama Sutten looked over her horses.

The old woman laughed and said, "All that way? That wouldn't do. You would take months to get there. No, I'll give you two of my ponies. Now I know you can ride double, but you may need to go faster than a single horse can. So take Nitch and Nickle, with these old saddles."

They put the cracking leather saddles on the young horses and led them out into the night air. Once they were all the way ready, they were hugged tightly by Mama Sutten. "Stay safe and have your adventures, my pets." She slipped loaves of bread into their packs and helped them up. "May peace be with you," she said as the girls trotted of toward the border.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hope ya enjoyed it peoples! I admit it here and now: I do not speak the language of the elves, so of course there will be MANY mistakes there. Also, I know I'm not being 100 accurate on everything, but give me a break, k? It's 1 a.m., I'm bored, so I started a story. What can ya do? I'll just see how this idea works out. I love you all for reading, but I will love you 100 times more if you REVIEW! Ciao my lovely readers!